Fennec Showdown: The First International CrossFit Competition in Algeria
On September 13th and 14th, the first international CrossFit competition in Algeria took place, organized at the largest CrossFit gym in Algeria and North Africa: The WODLAND, which was inaugurated for the occasion.
CrossFit is a sport that combines functional movements, performed at high intensity and varied. It draws from gymnastics, weightlifting, and cardio exercises to improve overall physical condition. Suitable for all levels, it helps develop strength, endurance, agility, and flexibility.
CrossFit has experienced rapid growth in Algeria in recent years, thanks to the first affiliated box, The Gymland Es CrossFit.
The technical director of this box, Hayed Billel, explains the reasons for CrossFit's rapid growth in Algeria:
"The popularity and development of CrossFit in Algeria have significantly progressed for two main reasons: First, Algeria has top athletes participating in international competitions like the 'Carthage Throwdown' and the 'Elfit Arab Championship.' Second, there are now certified and qualified coaches offering high-quality training. Additionally, the community and competitive spirit play a big role, which is why we launched this unique event in Algeria."
The competition is organized into multiple events, each consisting of a WOD (Workout of the Day) that involves completing a series of exercises with proper form to meet the standards, ensuring the repetitions are validated by the judges.
Since the announcement of the competition in December, the first local event took place on January 1st at The Gymland, called "Duo Showdown". The competition featured three events: Dz Vice, Speed Switch, and Game Charger, and was a great success.
Building on the success of the local event, the organizer’s ambition raised and announced the first major international CrossFit competition in Algeria: the Fennec Showdown. The name pays homage to the fennec, a national symbol in Algeria known for its adaptability and resilience. These animal caracteristics mirror the most important CrossFit’s requirements and values.
This competition was unique as it's held in duos, making partner selection crucial. Athletes are divided into three categories: Rookie, Intermediate, and RX, with an additional teens category for under 17ths athletes.
Athlete classification is based on weight and movement standards, challenging participants to push their limits.
Athletes are classified through evaluation standards based on weights (maximum lifts) and movements. Some movements are more difficult than others, such as high-skill movements that require advanced physical and technical abilities.
CrossFit also emphasizes surpassing oneself. As Bilal reminds us, if an athlete masters at least 80% of the prerequisites for a category but is hesitating on which category to enter, they can choose the higher category to challenge themselves further.
Fennec Showdown also saw the participation of athletes from several countries, with strong delegations from Tunisia and Libya, strengthening ties between CrossFit communities in the Maghreb and the Arab world. The event consisted of five major workouts:
- Event 1: hami yekfini
- Event 2: bin hana w mana dha3t l7ana
- Event 3: che3ft ya dawd kan mazalt n3awd
- Event 4 : twil 3la liyt bla 3cha
- Event 5: the final one, the peak
The competition was intense, igniting the newly opened WODLAND gym. Fennec Showdown was a resounding success, marking a milestone for CrossFit in Algeria.